The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-12-23

upstairs to her room But had she fingered
| O moment, Doris would have heard DIR.
Blake utter something akin to mild prOfan-
fty, and seen him rise to his feet SO eaddenly
as to nearly precipitate the clinging widow
over hassock!
sMrs Mack" he sternly exclaimed, but the
lady, fOrcibly overcome by a sense of maid
emily modesty. had fed
and Miss Doris see it ALI" said Bob, in
audible sOiiloquy. as he stood staring in a
dazed sort of way at the open door.
60 to bed. Bob sharply commanded DR..
Blake, in great perturbation of spirit What
could he have said or done in his dreamy
abstraction that Mrs Mack, who was the
pink Of propr:ety, should have thrown her
self into his armss Good Heavens, what q
terrible situation! Come what might he
would see Doris the first thing in the morn
ing and explain it
When a couple of hours after sunrise DR.
Blake opened his heavy eyes on New Years
morn, they rested at once on framed por-
trait hanging against the opposite wall
Where had it come from Who was it in
tended for?
For a closer view showed the Doctor that
the general contour of the features were his
own. So also was the blonde mustache. but
ceased The likeness between himself and
his nephew Paul had often been comment
ed on, This picture might have been Paul
with twenty years added to his age, or him.
self with ten subtracted
With sad smile Doctor Blake read the
inscription on card pinned on the frame
A New Years gift for my (sdear" erased)
guardian from his (-affect;onate" erased
ward
1t is plain that Doris forte Is not por-
trait painting" he said, with very audible
sigh And then wondering how he should
introduce the awkward explanation he was
meaning to make, the doctor went down to
breakfast
Replying rather CURLY to Mrs Mack's af-
fectionate New Years greeting, DIR. Blake
looked about the room
Miss Doris not down YETI he said, with
affected carelessnesa
MrH Mack drew herself mp primly
Sarah tells me, Doctor. that at sunrise
this morning she let Miss Doris out ut the
front door fully Creased for travelling and
carrying large hand sachel She gave no
explanation, but simply said she was going
away for good. and in due time would write
US And from the fact that our milkman
saw Mr. Paul Blake with a young lady who
exactly answers her description getting into
the Boston train at GAS, incline to the
opinion that they have gone of to get mar
ried"
DR.. Blake, who had himself well in hand,
made no audible comment on this surpris-
ing bit of news, which in reality was the
final blow to his vague hopes And Mrs
Mack. tucking a tiny, -blotted note ad-
dressed to DR.. Paul Bake little further
down in her pocket, noted with inward sat
fsfact;on that his appetite appeared in no
way impaired by what he had heard
I'VE will have talk when l come in
from my calls, Mrs Mack" he said, with his
usual courtesy; but the widow thought she
detected an undert0ne of warmth in his
speech, and her hopes ran higher than
ever.
Bob was waiting the doctors appearance
in the Office with manifest impotence 1t
was evident that he had nerved himself up
to the fulfillment of some important duty,
regardless OF consequences
Look here. Doctor, he said, in acautious
undertone. the moment DR.. Blake had
closed the door behind him: there's things
that's got to be said, whether you think Pm
a interferin' with what's none of my biz
ness or not Fust and foremost, you've let
Mis- Mack drive Miss Doris away from the
house -"
Nothing of the sort, Bob, sharply inter-
rupted DE- Blake Miss Doris has-has
run of with my nephew, Paul, to be mar
ried"
Beggin' your pardon. but she amt"
coolly returned Bob. who was nothing if
not blunt spoken Mr. Pauls been an
Hoped with Judge Haynes daughter, which
isn't only eighteen years old, and the Judge
is jest wild about it; every lody's talkin' of
it downtown"
Dr. Blake fell INTO the nearest chair
and sat staring speechlessly at Bob, who,
with great inward gusto, went on:
" Seems he told Miss Doris all about it, |
and she tried to get him OF the notion, but |
twasnt no use So hen Miss HAYNES has |
gone of to Boston to get married, and Miss |
Doris she's took the train to Portland, where |
she's had offer for to teach music and |
1rawin' in the Presbyterian Instituten
How do you know all this. Bob?" |
hoarsely demanded Doctor Blake, feeling |
as though every thing was clipping from |
1nder his feet
Didn't Miss Doris tel me last night |
when she got me to hang your picter /
n your bedroom on the sly. and she crying /
Ike her heart was a-bxeaking:" boldly re- !
nA nnI~ 49, q